Human Remains Found Believed To Be Missing Hemet Dad, Arrest Made

HEMET, CA — Sheriff's homicide investigators believe that human remains found this week in an unincorporated area of Perris belong to a 27-year-old Hemet father who was missing for nearly a year — and a suspect has now been charged in the man's apparent killing.

Ricardo Pardo, 39, of Perris was taken into custody July 28 and subsequently charged with murder in the killing of Joshua Crosier. Court records show Pardo is due to be arraigned Aug. 16 on one count of murder along with a sentencing enhancement of using a gun in the killing. He is being held on $1 million bail at Cois Byrd Detention Center, jail records show.

According to the sheriff's department, Crosier was reported missing by family members on Sept. 21, 2021. His loved ones told investigators they lost contact with him in late Aug. 2021.

Key clues to his whereabouts came in the ensuing months, but it was not good news. By April, sheriff's investigators "received information that Crosier was murdered" and they began working the case as a "no-body homicide," the department reported.

After several more months of interviews and evidence collection, the investigation targeted Pardo. Jail records show he was arrested at 8:50 a.m. July 28 on Salter Road in Mead Valley, which is an unincorporated area of Perris.

After searching several locations, on Tuesday male human remains — believed to be Crosier's —were finally found in unincorporated Perris.

It's not clear whether the remains were found at or near Pardo's arrest location. A motive for the killing and the relationship, if any, between the two men were not disclosed.

Social media posts by Crosier's family members show there was a $20,000 reward offered for information that led to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for the killing.

According to the posts, Crosier leaves behind a young daughter.

The investigation into Crosier's death continues. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Investigator Deanne of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.